21st July:16th July was a red letter day in the annals of Bethany history. It was on this day the twelve wise virgins formally stepped into the Adoration chapel after the Eucharistic celebration to commence the Perpetual Adoration.
On the 15th evening sisters of the Generalate and the Mother House community conducted a prayer hour to initiate the twelve sisters-volunteers from six provinces. At the outset the community sang the Bethany Anthem. Rev Sr Rose Celine, the Superior General, reading the Word of God from the O.T. Ezek. ch. 47 commented on how the tree planted by the running waters would flower and bear fruit, and how Bethany planted by the Founder has been growing and bearing fruit in the form of service to God’s people in India and Abroad. Having called on the Holy Spirit the twelve sisters were anointed and prayed over. The Superior General then concluded the hour of prayer.
The festal solemn Mass on the 16th was officiated by Rev. Fr Paul Melwin D’Souza ofm, Cap, superior of St Anne’s Friary, Bejai- Mangalore, concelebrated by Rev Fr Jawahar ofm, Cap, Fr Amit SJ and Fr Anil Pinto, asst parish priest of St SebastianChurch, Bendur. The renovated Chapel was filled to its capacity by the BLA members and the student candidates of Bethany’s Eastern Province. Fr Melwin preached a homily based on the Word of God and called on the participants to imitate Mary. He also highlighted the Founder’s devotion to Mary in her Annunciation, in her Seven Sorrows displayed in the chapel and the Lady of Fatima & Lourdes. At the end of the Mass, the Monstrance bearing the Sacred Host was carried in procession to the Adoration chapel and the twelve Sisters, like deer’s thirsting for the running streams, followed the Superior General Rev Sr Rose Celine and her team, Sr Leena Pereira Superior of the house with her councillors and few senior sisters and others filled the space. After worshiping the exposed Eucharistic Lord, Rev Sr Rose Celine made a prayer of worship, thanksgiving, and petitioning the Lord for blessing the volunteers and for protecting them from all snares of the evil one.
The participants then moved to the Pushpalaya refectory where after the initial welcome and greetings, the Servant of God, our revered Founder was garlanded by the Superior General and the choir in unison sang “AajugdasachoPoddhougadthanv...” Then twelve Sisters: Ann Maria, Annie VA, Hope, Irene, Joselita, Lucian, Noel, Olinda, Peter, Praveen, Severine Pinto, and Suguna, were offered a Rosary each by the Superior General as a mark of remembrance. Rev Fr Dionysius Vaz, the Rector of St Aloysius College community, and other priests who celebrated the Mass witnessed the programme.
Let the Servant of God Mgr RFC Mascarenhas be raised to the honours of the altar at the earliest was the refrain from every heart. Let Bethany grow, flower, and bear fruit.